The very notion of a "China's Security State Sells an A.I. Dream" brings into sharp focus the dual nature of artificial intelligence: its immense potential for progress and its profound capacity for pervasive control. As I reflect on this, I find myself returning to conversations I've had and observations I've made over the years about AI's ethical landscape.
The Human Element in AI's Rise
The advancements in AI are relentless, touching every facet of our lives, from legal proceedings to newsrooms. I've noted with interest how Evan Gorelick, in his piece for The New York Times, highlighted the emergence of "Vigilante Lawyers Expose the Rising Tide of A.I. Slop in Court Filings" Vigilante Lawyers Expose the Rising Tide of A.I. Slop in Court Filings. This immediate, practical concern about AI's fallibility in critical domains echoes my earlier thoughts on AI's impact on professions, particularly lawyers, as seen in my post "A case of AI substituting NI?" A case of AI substituting NI?. The question of accuracy and reliability isn't just technical; it's fundamentally ethical.
Similarly, Benjamin Mullin and Katie Robertson's report, "A.I. Sweeps Through Newsrooms, but Is It a Journalist or a Tool?" A.I. Sweeps Through Newsrooms, but Is It a Journalist or a Tool?, delves into the industry-wide soul-searching regarding AI's potential and pitfalls in media. These discussions, along with the broader ethical considerations that Kwame Anthony Appiah often explores in "The Ethicist" Ethics - The New York Times, emphasize that technology, however advanced, must always be tethered to human values and accountability.
We also see ethical dilemmas arise in governance and public service, as detailed in reports from Devlin Barrett on senatorial phone searches, Lara Jakes and Alisa Dogramadzieva on the Serbian hotel project, Minho Kim on Homeland Security's record-keeping, and Alan Feuer, Devlin Barrett, and Michael S. Schmidt on the D.C. Mayor's foreign trip investigation. These articles, along with Trip Gabriel's piece on Stanley Chesley and Karoun Demirjian's report on lawmakers seeking investigation of judges Ethics - The New York Times, remind us that ethical conduct is a constant struggle across all sectors, amplified when technology enters the fray.
The Imperative for Ethical AI Governance
The insights from the article regarding China's approach to AI, while not fully detailed, suggest a top-down, security-focused implementation. This perspective makes me reflect on my persistent calls for robust AI regulation and ethical frameworks. Years ago, I emphasized the need for a "Parekh's Law of Chatbots" to ensure AI systems are not "Mis-informative / Malicious / Slanderous / Fictitious / Dangerous" and incorporate built-in controls and human feedback. My dialogue with Rajeev Chandrasekhar, as highlighted in "Thanks Rajeevji for giving a glimpse of…" Thanks Rajeevji for giving a glimpse of…, underlines the necessity of embedding principles of safety and accountability in law.
I find validation in the global discourse, such as the commitments brokered by the Biden administration, involving tech giants like Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and OpenAI, as discussed in "AMIGO-MA bids well for Biden" AMIGO-MA bids well for Biden. President Joe Biden, Arati Prabhakar (Science Advisor), and leaders like Chuck Schumer have been instrumental in pushing for safeguards. The call by António Guterres, the UN Secretary General, for a new UN body to govern AI further resonates with my long-held belief in a coordinated, international approach, which I had put forth years ago as an "INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITY for CHATBOTS APPROVAL (IACA)." This is crucial to prevent what Brad Smith of Microsoft called "dangerous capabilities" of AI. Ashish Aggarwal of Nasscom also weighed in on the need for responsible development.
I remember discussing with Varun the challenges AI faces with morality, a topic I explored deeply in "Morals – Ethics : Permanent or Temporary?" Morals – Ethics : Permanent or Temporary and referenced again in "AI and morality" AI and morality. The collective wisdom of multiple LLMs, as I explored in "5 LLMs are any day better than one" 5 LLMs are any day better than one, to achieve consensus and mitigate biases, is a practical step towards ethical AI development.
Leaders like Elon Musk and Samuel Altman from OpenAI, Christina Montgomery from IBM, and Professor Gary Marcus have all contributed to this vital conversation. Ashwini Vaishnaw, India's Minister, also articulated India's intent to establish guardrails, emphasizing a collaborative, international framework, aligning perfectly with the vision I shared with Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Senator Blumenthal.
Accountability as the Cornerstone
The notion of a security state using AI for surveillance brings to mind my ongoing advocacy for transparency and accountability. Whether it's the I-T department cracking down on political funding, as detailed in "I-T Dept cracks down on donors of unrecognised political parties" I-T Dept cracks down on donors of unrecognised political parties, or the concerning statistics of criminal cases against Lok Sabha MPs, which I discussed in "251 LS MPs face criminal cases including 19 of 20 from Kerala" 251 LS MPs face criminal cases including 19 of 20 from Kerala and "Is Lokpal overdue?" Is Lokpal overdue?, the core principle remains: power without transparency is ripe for misuse.
My earlier suggestions for incentivized "whistleblowing" and transparent feedback loops are relevant here. If AI systems, particularly those employed by state security, lack such mechanisms for public oversight and accountability, they risk becoming instruments of oppression rather than tools for collective good. It's about ensuring that the benefits of AI are widely shared and that its deployment aligns with universally accepted ethical standards.
We stand at a critical juncture. The path we choose for AI's future will define our societies for generations. It must be a path guided by foresight, ethical imperative, and collective responsibility.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
No comments:
Post a Comment